Woman who cried when she looked in mirror shares weight loss journey: 'It had gone too far'
A woman who cried when she looked in the mirror has shared how she managed a 7st (44kg) weight loss.
At her heaviest Abby Redmond, 25, from Glasgow, weighed 21st (133kg) and wore a dress size 22, but her weight left her struggling to walk upstairs and panicking about not being able to fit into booths at restaurants.
The cake shop owner says she ultimately hit rock bottom when she went swimming and burst into tears when she caught site of herself in the costume.
The upsetting moment was the push she needed to make a change, encouraging Redmond to find a PT and commit to a new diet plan.
Within 12 months of overhauling her eating and fitness regime she had lost an impressive 7st and dropped down to a size 12.
Read more: Woman achieves 12st weight loss after humiliating wake-up call
“My weight effected every aspect of my life," she explains. “If my friends picked me up in a two door car I would worry I was too big to get into the back.
“I would go out and see everyone up dancing but would just sit and watch because I had no confidence, and I was scared people would be looking at me.
“I just felt I was too big to do anything."
Recalling the moment in the swimming room changing rooms, Redmond says it ultimately became a turning point.
“I hated what I saw in the mirror and I knew it had gone too far," she adds.
Read more: Woman trolled online about her size sees 9st weight loss in a year
Redmond believes eating up to four takeaways a week contributed to her weight gain.
“I would have a McDonalds for lunch and then order something else for dinner," she says.
But when a gym opened up across the road from her cake shop, Redmond took the opportunity to sign up.
"I thought right this is my chance, there is no hiding from it now," she says.
“I didn’t believe anyone my size could actually look slim but when I asked my PT if she thought I could do it she said yes.
“That was the light bulb moment for me, just having someone believe in me.”
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After sticking to a diet plan, eating 1,800 calories a day, lifting weights and overhauling her fitness regime, Redmond is now a trim size 12 and weighs around 14st (89kg).
Despite struggling to walk up a flight of steps just last year, Redmond can now deadlift 160kg, run 5km and goes to the gym five days a week.
“I have found a passion for weightlifting," she adds.
“I had never lifted a weight before but now I love it.
“I won achievement of the year at the Scottish Health and Fitness awards, which I am really proud of, and my trainer, who owns The Wee PT, won best female PT.”
Read more: Woman shares weight loss journey after dropping from a size 20 to a size 8
Redmond, who owns Abby's Cakes & Cupcakes, is embracing her new diet too.
“I am never hungry," she says. "My protein intake is important now I am lifting weights and I try to eat 140g a day.
“I also make fakeaways and protein puddings - my meals are never boring."
Redmond says her incredible body transformation has given her a whole new lease of life.
"Now when I go to parties, I am always up dancing and I want people to look at me because I have worked really hard for this," she explains.
“Nothing can hold me back."
Read more: Beautician shares new meal plan that led to seven-stone weight loss
Typical day's food diary before weight loss
Breakfast - fry up made with oil, full fat sausages, bacon, potato scones, white bread
Lunch - fast food, McDonald’s
Dinner - Indian or Chinese takeaway
Typical day's food diary after weight loss
Breakfast - healthy fry up in the air fryer, bacon medallions, low fat sausages, mini hash brown, eggs, mushrooms, tomato, beans.
Lunch - protein bagel thin with sliced cold meat
Dinner - fakeaway mayflower chicken curry with plenty of onions, spring onion, peppers.
Additional reporting SWNS.
